Lewis, Lowell N. : Agricultural Experiment Station

LOWELL N . LEWIS Director - Agricultural Experiment Station A classic modelof successful research to be solved and improves the choice of projects . Recognition of 75 years of citrus research in California provides an opportunity to recognize at the same time the As a result , we have had 75 years of successful research of state agricultural experiment sta - overall importance at Riverside ; the citrus industry has continued to be pro - ductive and profitable ; innumerable new management of tions in solving the problems limiting the production techniques have been added to the production , packaging , food and fiber . The work done on citrus at Riverside is a and marketing of citrus ; fruit quality has improved ; and of the state agricultural experiment station : classic model detrimental effects of crop production on the environ - new knowledge has been developed through basic re - ment have decreased . In addition , knowledge has been search , that knowledge converted to an applied tech - developed on soils and water , pest management , plant nology and to applied research and development , user sciences , and statistics that has benefited the production groups educated through Cooperative Extension , and of other agricultural commodities in California and these new ideas incorporated into existing management throughout the world . systems . In turn , the needs and problems of the user The future of citrus research and state agricultural ex - groups have been identified and fed back through periment stations will require greater efforts than any - Cooperative Extension to the applied and basic sciences . of any of these components Elimination or diminution thing we have experienced in the past . The science of agriculture will need the best scientific would severely limit the dynamic system . minds , the best research facilities , and greater financial The Citrus Experiment Station at Riversidewas begun , and political support . Too often today , lobbying by agri - as were so many of our successful programs , because of cultural interests deals only with todayâ??s problems growers saw that only through research could they solve federally insured loans , market controls , subsidies , en - the increasing problems facing their industry . Industry vironmental regulations , pesticide registration , immigra - representatives have never lost their enthusiasm for re - tion , and the like . Tough and criticalissues , everyone , but search and extension activities . They have provided assis - the result is becoming a â?? manana â?쳌 attitude toward tance through their advice and criticism , their dollars , the research support . use of their facilities , and their political support . The Uni - Few would argue that the citrus industry would not be versity has sustained the program through the construc - in business in California today had it not been for the of tion of facilities , the hiring , evaluation , and support diligence of the research scientists , the extension special - excellent faculty , the dissemination of information , and ists , industry and regulatory people , and the financialsup - the constant evaluation of research direction and of the state and federal government . Thatâ??s what a port priorities . state agricultural experiment station is all about . It is important to realize that the resulting program is a not one dictated by either side , but generally represents compromise . Some needs of the industry are not realistic , because the science does not exist to solve the problem or Correction because the issue is really legal or political and not one In the September - October issue , page 2 , paragraph 1 , that requires research . On the other hand , the interaction the Joint Council on food and Agricultural Sciences was with growers , packers , and shippers often gives the re - on Trade and incorrectly identified as the Joint Council of the problems that need searcher a better understanding Agricultural Sciences . We regret the error . CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE , NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 1982